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About the property

Cabin1400 sq. ft.

Bedrooms3

Sleeps8

Bathrooms2

Half Baths0

Minimum StayNone

Cabin, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2 Baths, (priced for 6)

Just some of the reasons you'll love Sow's Ear: Great fishing access, hot tub overlooking the Trinity River, end of the road quiet. Furnishings include cool antiques as well as a new tapestry wildlife couch and matching chair that are a delight to cuddle up on. There is a pleasant covered porch with nice seating, a bit of river view, room to dry waders and gear and maybe enjoy a glass of wine. Dog-friendly and no minimum stay. Also, this place has a great vibe.

We have special rates for 3 or more nights. We also offer a dandy extended stay rate for traveling medical professionals and others who need a home away from home, and we have a couple's rate when only one bedroom is used. Please note the "Average nightly rate" you see is set by VRBO and it is not accurate; our posted rates are.

Sow's Ear is one cabin up from the river. Our own cabin is one of the closest to the river on the entire Trinity and since our guests have full use of our cabin's riverfront patio, hot tub and more, as well as someone to borrow stuff like tape, or a wrench, or a compressor, or flour (not to mention a dead battery jump!) from, they win all the way around.

Sow's Ear is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom cabin that is priced for up to 6 guests, but it's quite popular for couples, so we have special rates for a party of two using one bed. We will consider a few guests over 6, but try to keep numbers down. If approved, additional guests over a total of six are $16 each per night.

You can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime on the SMART TV, and a really good selection of books awaits you. Sow's Ear has Wi-Fi. Guests get free introductory lessons on SUPs (stand-up paddle boards). We're on a wide and calm stretch of the river that's perfect for learning this sport. There is excellent hiking right outside your door, and who doesn't enjoy watching the deer that wander through the yard daily?

Sow's Ear has a wood stove (wood provided), central heating and air-conditioning, a full laundry (supplies provided) and a well-stocked kitchen. It is just 5 minutes or so off 299, but end-of-the-road quiet, and very easy to reach on fully paved roads. It's less than a minute's walk down the drive and you have full use of our 600+ feet of riverfront, complete with hammock, chairs, fire pit, more BBQs (including a Traeger wood pellet model), a shaded dining set AND that hot tub overlooking the river. The tub is upriver of our cabin and the lawn so guests don't feel crowded.

Each bedroom is unique and tastefully furnished. The master bedroom, Honeysuckle, has a custom queen log bed and a sliding door to the large covered porch. The Rustic has a queen-size log bed and a slider to the river porch. You can see and hear the river from the living room, porch and the Rustic bedroom. The Cedar Sanctuary room that looks out on the rosemary garden is completely paneled in cedar tongue & groove.

Bringing your own boat(s)? Bucktail put-in is across the river. Sow's Ear has proven to be a very popular cabin for fishers, who can tie their boats off to the trees overnight. Their catarafts are safe on the river bank, or on our lawn. Remember: our shoreline is your shoreline. You can dine overlooking the river, lounge in the hammocks, or fish from the shore.

KAYAK~SUP~RAFT! Bring tubes or smaller rafts for playing in front of our cabin. Rent our kayaks and SUPs for lake use, or join us on a guided river trip. Guests often say this trip is the highlight of their vacation.

Spring-Fall: We offer top notch sit-on-top kayak lessons, guided trips and rentals; guided raft trips and rentals; and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) demos, lessons and rentals. Our kayak lessons and guided river trips are exceptional. Check out our bio to see why. We are very good at teaching and guiding, never pushing you beyond your comfort zone, yet showing you how to expand it with our help.

Owner

Heidi & Steph

Member Since 2007

Response rate:

100%

Response time:

within a few hours

Speaks:

English, Spanish

Calendar last updated:

May 17, 2018

About Heidi & Steph

Steph Dutton is a world-renowned kayaker who paddled from Canada to Mexico, then paddled the Oregon coast again, in the winter. He also circumnavigated California's Channel Islands, often enduring thirty foot seas.
Heidi Tiura owned and ran several businesses before running away to sea and working on tug boats in Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
Steph and Heidi are both Coast Guard licensed masters, and creators of Sanctuary Cruises on the Monterey Bay. They have been featured in numerous books and documentaries for their work with whales (including National Geographic's 'Whale Attack,' which was based on their Mother's Day 2004 whale watching cruise).
Now, they live on the upper Trinity River and their kayak adventures are of a tamer sort. When not rafting or kayaking with their guests, they can usually be found on their motorcycles, because Trinity County has the best roads for riding bikes, SUPing down the river or skiing (both are PSIA certified ski instructors).

Heidi & Steph purchased this Cabin in 2005

Why Heidi & Steph chose Lewiston

Trinity County has the unbeatable combination of great natural beauty, incredible recreation opportunities, and it hasn't been overrun by tourists. People who have come here for twenty years remark at how little has changed. It is a spectacular place to explore.

What makes this Cabin unique

Being on the river has to be one of the most relaxing things there is up here, but that's not all. Whether you fish, paddle, hike, mountain bike or just sit and watch the fish swim by, it is a wonderful escape.

Amenities

Bedrooms

3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8

Honeysuckle-master bedroom

1 queen, Log bed; private porch

Cedar Sanctuary

1 queen, 2 bunk bed

Rustic

1 queen, Log bed, barnwood paneling, slider to river porch

Queen size Beds (3)

Two are hand-made custom log beds and one is a mahogany sleigh bed; Sofa: Full-sized and very comfortable for one person to sleep on. Stacked bunk Beds (2). These are adult-sized, sturdy and with plenty of headroom on the bottom bunk.

Bathrooms

2 Bathrooms

Main Bathroom

toilet, combination tub/shower, In central hall; next to laundry area

Honeysuckle (Master) Bath

toilet, shower

Location Type

Mountain View

Water View

Trinity River views and sounds. River is 1 minute walk from cabin

Waterfront

Full use of our 600' river frontage, hot tub & fire pit

Theme

Romantic

Family

Away From It All

Historic

Budget

Sports & Activities

Tourist Attractions

Adventure

Meals

Guests provide their own meals

General

Internet

High-speed

Telephone

Although cell phones don't work here, newer model cell phones may have an option for making calls over the internet. Check your phone's settings for this.

Heating

Whole house gas plus a high-efficiency Monitor heater

Linens Provided

Washing Machine

Soap included

Clothes Dryer

Dryer towels included

Parking

Ample!

Garage

Best for small to medium vehicles.

Air Conditioning

Whole house A/C

Towels Provided

Dish, bath and dog towels are provided. One roll of paper towels per visit; please bring more if you use a lot of them

Wireless Internet

High-speed

Wood Stove

Wood provided; when possible, a cozy fire awaits winter visitors each afternoon. This is a great stove for cooking a soups, a pot of beans or stew.

Iron & Board

Hair Dryer

Parking Off Street

Plenty. Room for a boat. Paved

Living Room

Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer

Easy turnaround, too.

Kitchen

Coffee Maker

With filters

Refrigerator

Ice maker

Oven

Microwave

Cooking Utensils

Good assortment of quality utensils for cooking inside and outside on gas or Weber BBQs

Stove

Gas; new in 2015

Toaster

Ice Maker

Pantry Items

Basic spices, sugar, flour, cooking oil; borrow anything from us!

Dishes & Utensils

Lots of variety for up to 10 guests

Kitchen

Nicely appointed kitchen. Anything you forgot and we didn't provide, we can probably loan you (we're just down the drive from you)

Very comfortable covered porch has a slight river view with wonderful river sounds. Plant-lined in summer. Perfect for drying gear

Deck / Patio

Guests are enthusiastically encouraged to use our fire pit, dining set, lounge chairs and hammock located on river patio in front of our own cabin.

Water Sports Gear

Free introductory lesson on stand-up paddle boards at our cabin. We're on a wide and calm stretch of the river that's perfect for learning this sport. SUPs rented for lake use

Suitability

Long-term Renters Welcome

Pool / Spa

Communal Pool

Great ponds less than a mile away provide warmer summer swimming than the river, but the river is lots of fun, too. Community pool in Weaverville.

Hot Tub

Located upriver from our own cabin, and less than a minute's walk on the paved drive from Sow's Ear, the hot tub overlooks the Trinity River and is a great place for stargazing.

Attractions

recreation center

churches

library

museums

playground

cinemas

live theater

restaurants

ruins

winery tours

health/beauty spa

Leisure Activities

sight seeing

walking

antiquing

eco tourism

bird watching

horseback riding

sledding

scenic drives

boating

shopping

wildlife viewing

Local Services & Businesses

ATM/bank

fitness center

groceries

hospital

laundromat

massage therapist

medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities

freshwater fishing

swimming

cycling

fishing

golf

wind-surfing

water skiing

mountain biking

mountaineering

hunting

fly fishing

sailing

hiking

jet skiing

mountain climbing

rafting

water tubing

whitewater rafting

cross country skiing

kayaking

rock climbing

snowmobiling

snorkeling/diving

Notes

Very quiet and peaceful. If you love deer, you'll enjoy the daily visits by the does and their fawns. Osprey, kingfishers, owls, gray foxes, squirrels and a couple of very large jackrabbits all live in the 'hood

House Rules

Check-in: 4:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Cancellation Policy

100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.

14 Reviews

Excellent4.6/5

Latest reviews

1 - 6 of 14

Wonderful place!

5/5

Stayed Apr 2018

doug b.

Great place. Quite, peaceful, and wonderful.

Submitted May 04, 2018

Very cozy and rustic , perfect for our needs. The setting was very peaceful.

5/5

Stayed Sep 2016

David S.

Had a great time close enough to trails for mountain biking, hot tub setting was very relaxing on the river in quiet rural neighborhood. Sitting on the front porch with a beer after riding was just what the doctor ordered. The owners were very helpful/informative about the area.

Dave S. Novato, CA

Submitted Oct 11, 2016

Beautiful spot. Secluded. You can see and hear the river. Heidi and steph were great!

4/5

Stayed Jul 2016

Deborah M.

We really enjoyed our stay it was a first for our family to do something like that. We would have used the river front more except for the mosquitos. I felt bad about knocking on the door when we had a question instead of being able to call because the phones are connected and our cell phones didn't call out. However they were very gracious about it. Thank you Heidi and steph for a memorable vacation!!

Submitted Jul 20, 2016

Rules!

2/5

Stayed Jun 2016

Ed Y.

There is a rule book with staying at this property! Not to mention the thermostat is locked! Locked! Use the wood fireplace instead, don't worry if your kids get cold at night. The hot tub and river access is actually on their property, not the one you are staying on, and not private if you want to be alone on your vacation. The beds and furniture needs to be replaced unless you enjoy sitting on the support structure and collapsed springs. Let's not start on the numerous spider webs all over the house...or the dust and dirt if you bump furniture or look in the corners. Word of caution, bring towels unless you are OK with material you typically use to dry your car. I felt like the "towel" was a squeegee.

I would recommend to look elsewhere if you really want to stay in the area.

Submitted Jun 23, 2016

Owner's Response:

It is too bad Ed was not happy with Sow's Ear, but we live next door and tell every guest to let us know if they need anything. In fact, on their guest check-in sheet it says at the top: "Please check your cabin upon arrival. If anything is amiss, we will fix it." They said nothing.

Our property description clearly states where the hot tub is and the river; it would not serve anyone well to mislead guests on this.

Yes, we do have a welcome book with a lot of info about the cabin and area, and it does have rules, just as people have rules for their kids and how their home is treated.

We locked the thermostat after one party alone racked up a $300+ propane bill for less than a one week stay. We actually lost money on 3 separate guests this year who did things such as turn the gas heat on high in the winter (ignoring the wood stove that is great and has free wood and the Monitor heater that is far more efficient than the forced air heat) and then they opened windows and left them open with temps outside in the 30s. Get hit with several astronomically high propane bills and you have to find a solution; this was ours.

These guests arrived just after 100 degree + temperatures, We would have gladly turned up the thermostat which is set at 73 degrees, but nobody said a word, even when I walked up to say good-bye as they were packing up. Had they asked us to turn up the heat and we refused, then I feel they would have a valid complaint. I had a several minute conversation with this reviewer's wife, who didn't complain about anything and was quite pleasant, but when I introduced myself to Ed, I don't even think he responded.

I checked Sow's Ear out before these guests came and even though it had been cleaned the day before, there were cobwebs where they couldn't possibly have been the day before. It happens. Spiders are a constant in the country especially and although I am sorry they had some webs, it wasn't from not cobwebbing, which we do frequently. The spiders just come back and go to work again. Even so, we'd have cobwebbed while they were out exploring had anyone said anything to us.

Sow's Ear is booked every year by the same guests, who stay anywhere from 2 nights to 31 nights each time, and they love it, the furnishings and the vibe. Most guests love the microfiber bath towels, too. Fluffy, soft, super absorbent & great colors.

This guest could have met us halfway by communicating his displeasure while here so we could have addressed it.

Best Weekend Ever!

5/5

Stayed Jun 2016

Bob M.

From the moment my friends and I arrived for our fishing weekend, the Sow's Ear was paradise. We showed up early and was met with a welcome smile. We were toured through the place and given some history of the area. There were 7 of us and we all slept comfortably. The owners were so nice and even had some ketchup for us when we forgot to bring it for our hot dogs. Deer came right up to the house even when we were outside. The sound of the river flowing by at night was so calming. I just hope we were not too loud at night for anyone in the area. We had so much fun and are already planning on making this a yearly thing for ourselves. Thank You so much!

Submitted Jun 13, 2016

Cute and Cozy!

5/5

Stayed Feb 2016

Stephanie M.SF Bay Area, CA

What a cute and cozy riverside cabin! Sow's Ear was the perfect place to hang out and enjoy the river. It gave us a safe place to teach the kids how to fish during the day and night, and was a great place to just hang out and roast some marshmallows. The wifi is only good in one spot, and the cell service is spotty at best, so it was really the perfect place to disconnect from our mobile distractions, and really relax and enjoy the surroundings. During the day, there is a large family of deer roaming the neighborhood and there is great river frontage where you can just chill out and watch the water rush by. At night, the stars are bright and the sounds of the river fauna fill the air. We really loved it, and we can't wait to come back!

Submitted Feb 18, 2016

Owner's Response:

This was a very nice family and we enjoyed hosting them! We loved their appreciation of the river, all the deer (we're at around 16 or so does and fawns this winter in "our" herd), the starry nights and the fire pit for the all-important ritual of making s'mores. We'd love to have them back.

Although they were OK with spotty cell service, we are going to put in a dedicated, separate line this spring (rather than bounced up from our place) because more and more people hope to unplug on vacation, but just can't pull it off.

Rates & Availability

Taxes and fees are additional

Additional information about rental rates

Cleaning fee

$85

Pet fee

$15

Additional guest fee

$16

Please contact us for discounts on stays over 2 nights.
We offer exceptionally generous discounts on longer stays, especially for medical travelers coming to work in the area.
If approved, additional guests might be increased with additional fees.
Pet Fees are per dog ($15 each). Friendly dogs ONLY. We will consider more than 1 dog and may even waive the fee for a 2nd dog, but we absolutely need an accurate count.
Guests who book directly with us do not pay until they arrive.
Guided Kayak Trips include full lesson, all gear, shuttles.
Guided raft trips include all gear necessary and shuttles.
Free paddleboard mini-lessons are available.